Invitrogen™ Renilla luciferase Polyclonal Antibody

Renilla luciferase (RLuc), derived from the sea pansy Renilla reniformis, is a widely-used reporter gene in molecular biology for in vitro and in vivo assays, including gene expression studies and small animal imaging. The luciferase enzyme, approximately 37 kDa in size, belongs to the alpha/beta hydrolase family and operates via a catalytic mechanism involving the oxidative decarboxylation of its substrate, coelenterazine, in the presence of molecular oxygen, resulting in the emission of blue light. The gene encoding Renilla luciferase has been isolated and characterized, with its cDNA available for various applications. Structurally, RLuc contains a hydrolase fold akin to that of bacterial dehalogenases, suggesting an evolutionary relationship. Despite extensive utilization, the exact details of its active site and catalytic mechanism continue to be explored. The bioluminescent property of RLuc is particularly useful for generating a detectable signal in various biological assays, enhancing its utility as a biosensor.